Pros

Cons

Can be noisy (draft/duplexing mode)

Color document print quality

Quick Take

If you are looking to upgrade your home office device, consider the Canon Pixma MX922.

The Pixma Mx922 is one of the printers included in Canon’s 2013 line of Pixma Office inkjet printers, originally debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. The device is designed for home office use and features some noticeable upgrades from the previous model Pixma Mx892. The Pixma Mx922 is priced at $200 at the time of the review.

The Pixma Mx922 is 19 x 16 x 9-inches when not in use and features a duplexing automatic document feeder that folds from the lid and can scan, copy or fax documents. The printer has a 3-inch LCD dual-function panel, four device keys, a few quick keys, a front-side USB port and CD/DVD printing port, which is attached to the back of a 20 sheet photo tray. The Pixma Mx922 comes with five individual ink cartridges and can be replaced with standard or high capacity. There are two front-loading trays, one being the 20 sheet photo tray and the other a 250-sheet paper cassette. On the back of the device is a USB 2.0 port and Ethernet port. The printer can also be set up via Wireless LAN.

The printer comes with a Getting Started fold-out guide for the first half of the installation process. Users can then elect to set up the print via the Ethernet or wireless. When choosing wireless, users will have to select the network and enter the network key. The second half of installation can be completed with an included CD. The wizard will run the install and when it’s done a message will pop up on the LCD screen. All that’s left is registering the device.

Users have access to Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint and Pixma Cloud Print, which allows users to print images from Canon Gateway and Picasa accounts. PrinterComparison found the services easy to set up from the control panel and the Pixma Mx922 includes new software with revamped design, structure and options. The Canon Quick Menu features Print, Scan, Web Services, Manual and Device Information and Device Settings and Maintenance categories. Within each category, users can find the main options. The biggest challenge PC found was in the My Image Garden photo software, which it noted can be “as basic or complex as the users choose to make it.” Via the software, users are able to sort photos into different categories including Calendar (date), People or Events. Consumers will need additional software for still video capture mode. The Special Image Filters Print mode allows users to add effects to images and then save them. The printer also comes with ScanGear in both basic and advanced modes, which allows users to scan images and documents directly to a PC, USB flash drive or email.

PC found the Pixma Mx922 showed performance improvements over previous models in its class. Print speed for black and white documents came in at 14 pages per minute (ppm), but PC did notice some small delays in processing. Color documents printed at an average of 8 ppm, which is twice as fast as previous models. PC found the draft/fast print mode was not actually any faster and was quite a bit louder. The automatic duplexing is slow. Overall, PC found the black and white print quality was “worthy” and compared it to a laser-class printer.

The Pixma Mx922 did an average job on prints with minimal color, but PC found when printing documents with a lot of color (brochures, flyers etc.), the printer bleeds into copy paper and images lack sharpness. The print quality of photos is good and the device prints photos quickly, with 4×6 images printing in less than 30 seconds. When testing the Pixma Mx922, PC experienced no paper jams, but did note a spooling issue with duplex printing. PC used a 3:1 black and white to color ratio when testing the ink and was able to print 446 “quality pages” before the printer alerted that it was time to change in the ink. The Pixma Mx922 is Energy Star qualified and PC found it used under 30 W of energy.

Overall, PC noted the Pixma Mx922 is an improvement to the previous models in Canon’s office lineup, but not enough to warrant an upgrade from the models immediately preceding this one. However, consumers who have older versions of Canon’s office printers will find the Pixma Mx922 to be a good upgrade. PC was impressed with the wireless connectivity, speed and paper capacity, but noted the noise level and poor quality of color documents as possible cons.

TechnologyGuide provides a range of relevant product news and review information to consumers and business professionals
that focuses on the application and implications of everyday technology. The in-depth content can be used to make more
informed lifestyle and business technology purchase decisions. TechnologyGuide is part of TechTarget's global media network
of more than 100 technology-specific websites.